House Passes Compromise Surveillance Bill

March 14, 2008

CDT applauded the House of Representatives today for passing a compromise intelligence surveillance bill. CDT urges the Senate to adopt the bill’s provisions protecting privacy and promoting accountability. The House bill requires prior judicial authorization of procedures governing surveillance targeting people abroad who may be communicating with people in the U.S., but does not require individual orders in such cases. While the bill rejects blanket retroactive immunity for telecoms that assisted with illegal warrantless surveillance, it would allow the companies to use national security information in defending themselves against litigation.